It's what I was getting at when I said I'd refuse someone converting the old Debenhams into flats if it's done poorly. The city should have a joined up plan. We should be driving what the future of the city centre is, what should be done and where. Not just accepting any old thing. If you make a **** job of these things it's a long time before you get another shot at it.
A lack of joined up thinking. All over the city center there are pockets of redevelopment done with Grant or aid money and sometimes all the new investment has done is pulled people shops and businesses away from another area in the town.
The problem with that is Hull Council aren't doing the work, so they have little control on what is done, and only planning and building regs to decide how. They get occasional additional funding from central government, but that can be very specific on what it can be applied to. Other authorities are in a similar position, with perhaps more funding to entice developers. The consequence is, if Corpo put too many 'wishes' on what things can and can't be done, the developer will simply move to a more amenable council area. Also, I imagine that getting the balance between a vibrant City Centre, and City centre living is a tightrope and a half.
Yeah, I know it's wishful thinking and the funding isn't there to just buy up all the land and there's a million and one hoops to jump through. They did manage to secure the east bank land. Let's see what they do there. I just can't help but believe that if central government was willing to invest in making our town and city centres fit for the 21st century, the economic benefits would more than pay for itself. They would need to train an army of tradesmen. But apparently there's no shortage of jobless youngsters...
The city centre is too big for retail now, repurposing Debenhams into flats is the only option. You can have a vision but I don't think HCC have enough finance or control to have a joined up plan?
The future of city centres is living and leisure. The type of shopping we grew up with is dead or dying.
And what will happen to him when he appears at court ,Nowt .Never mind all the cost to the emergency services this morning ,people missing trains and hospital appointments and been late for work etc .
you just know he already has atleast 40 previous convictions too i genuinely think if you somehow get double digit conviction you should be put in a pillory or stocks in the city centre and over 50 and you get turned into biofuel
I assume you contributed to the development of it last month then? https://news.hull.gov.uk/03/02/2025/public-engagement-launched-to-shape-future-of-hull-city-centre/ https://www.hullvision.co.uk/
Yeah it's got me thinking a bit more about it. There was a survey I posed on here the other day that, I guess, fed off that. It's good that the conversation is happening.
Picture a traveller arriving by train or coach into Hull, needs a hotel within walking distance. Royal Station not available so further along ferensway offers up holiday inn, Hilton, travel Lodge. There is the campanile but it doesn't look attractive enough to make crossing the road worthwhile. After settling in goes out for a short walk and looking for food, crossing ferensway through a small street will bring the traveller to king Edward street but not much on offer there, can do a right onto Jameson st which will bring our weary traveller back to the station. Alternatively keep on king Edward to viccy square which is all very nice and gives the choice of paragon street or Carr Lane and back to ferensway. All in all rather bleak and poor representation of the city. We have quite a few nice places but they are all over the place and not in the immediate city center.
Spin that just a little and picture a traveller wanting to be in a particular part of Hull, a City they've never visited before and not on the outskirts. Could they work out their journey from the signs in the interchange?
Paragon arcade is a diamond in the rough. Allenby have done a great job with it. Shows what you can do if you make the most of a location.
Yep we need more glitzy red , yellow and orange windows with flashing signs and shop signs to take us up a notch !
